Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.
If you hit links we provide, we may receive compensation.
For casual birdwatchers and hummingbird enthusiasts alike, we tested the best feeders to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Credit:Southern Living / Jonathan Castleberry
With so many hummingbird feeders available, knowing where to start when purchasing might be tricky.
Additionally, we focused on aesthetics for the hummingbird feeders, including colored glass feeders and antique-style feeders.
Things To Know Before You Shop
What feeders attract the most hummingbirds?
Credit: Amazon
Hummingbirds can spot the color red from a distance and are drawn to it.
Is a plastic or glass hummingbird feeder better?
Both plastic and glass feeders are acceptable to hummingbirds.
The Bolite Hummingbird Feeder’s design is aesthetically pleasing, but also functional: The red glass attracts more hummingbirds.Credit: Southern Living
It makes no difference to the birds, says Everett.
Therefore, the choice between plastic and glass feeders comes down to personal preference.
Plastic feeders are affordable, lightweight, and less likely to break if dropped.
Glass feeders are more likely to break in the event of a fall due to severe weather orpersistent pests.
The red glass is beautiful but also functional.
Hummers were drawn to this feeder thanks to its bright red color and five decorative flower feeding ports.
After two months of testing, this feeder attracted more hummingbirds than any other option in our list.
It held up well during testing, surviving several summer storms with no damage.
Its flowers remained vibrant, and it never attracted large birds or other animals.
We appreciated that it stayed secure and continued attracting hummingbirds throughout the testing process.
It even held up well in a few rainstorms.
With a capacity of 22 ounces, this feeder limits the number of refills needed.
The feeder was straightforward and easy to use.
Simple instructions, including the recommended ratio of sugar to water, were included.
Thankfully, the wide-mouth bottle makes refilling and cleaning the feeder easy.
Fortunately, an ant moat can be purchased separately and hung at the top of the feeder.
The saucer-style construction provides an unobstructed view as well as easy refilling and cleaning.
After two months of testing, this feeder held up well with no signs of wear or damage.
During testing, we also never had an issue with animals or large birds attempting to use the feeder.
We also appreciated that its simple design makes this feeder easy to clean.
Although the price is slightly higher, we appreciated the clean and easy design of this hassle-free feeder.
This feeder is decorative yet still functional.
We liked the design of this feeder, given that the bottom feeding tray is a solid one-piece.
The bird feeder has vibrant red flowers that really pop on the silver feeding base so that attract hummers.
The base of this feeder provides a small circular perch for the birds to rest while feeding.
We found it slightly difficult to fill the feeder with nectar since the bottom is not flat.
Its also important to note that an additional S-hook is required (but not included) for better hanging.
In further testing, we saw hummingbirds, bees, and other small birds.
The feeder has a wide-mouth opening for ease of filling and cleaning the bottle and base.
It held up well in adverse weather without any signs of damage.
After ongoing testing, we believe this feeder is well-made and effective.
There are four flower ports with built-in bee guards to protect the nectar from bees.
This feeder comes with a packet of instant nectar concentrate for the first feeding.
There is a circular perch for the birds surrounding the feeder’s base.
The wide mouth is helpful for ease of refilling, and the base comes apart for ease of cleaning.
And with this design, your feeder will always stay level, even in high winds.
Credit: Amazon
It was very easy to construct the bird feeder, and the feeder was secure to the window.
The feeder is simple to refill without detaching the suction cups and contact points from the window.
With a 16-ounce reservoir, there is ample space for nectar, limiting the number of refills required.
The First Nature Hummingbird Feeder has an attached ring that allows hummingbirds to perch while feeding.Credit: Southern Living
The hummingbird ring comes in two easy-to-assemble pieces: the reservoir base and the colorful petals.
Conveniently, the hummingbird ring is very easy to clean between uses and is conveniently top-rack dishwasher safe.
The wide-mouth glass bottle is easy to fill and clean, too.
We think this feeder is worth the price due to the quality of the materials.
The 12-ounce glass bottle has a top-fill design, making refilling more accessible and less messy.
This feeder has a locking channel at the base, creating a tight seal to prevent leaky nectar messes.
Despite being subject to wind and rain, the feeder withstood adverse weather conditions and remained in good condition.
Simple yet durable, we love the look and functionality of this classic glass bottle design.
After two months of use, this feeder attracted more hummingbirds than any other option we tested.
Our Testing Process
We reviewed and tested 10 hummingbird feeders for a two-month period in Alabama.
We focused on many specifications of hummingbird feeders, including material, jot down, and capacity.
Bottle feedersfeature an inverted bottle that holds the nectar and releases it through feeding ports at the base.
Bottle feeders tend to hold more nectar and thus require fewer refills.
However, saucer feeders are more resistant to leaks and easier to clean.
Capacity
Feeders come in various sizes and can hold different amounts of nectar.
Some come in as little as 4 ounces and some at a whopping 48 ounces, says Morejon.
As with anything with a smaller reservoir, you must refill the smaller ones more frequently.
Hummers can hover without the perch, but other birds cannot.
Questions and Answers
Should a hummingbird feeder be in the sun or shade?
Additionally, changing the nectar twice a week is recommended to maintain freshness.
In warm weather or in the sun, nectar can grow mold quickly and ferment, says Everett.
The hummingbirds will avoid contaminated feeders.
They know all their nutritional resources and avoid any that are contaminated, he says.
What is the best time of day to feed hummingbirds?
Its best to fill a hummingbird with nectar and let them feed throughout the day as they kindly.
They do not feed at night, explains Everett.
Hummingbirds will feed all day, and you might typically see them throughout the day.
At night, however, they go into a hibernation state.
When is the best time of year to put out your hummingbird feeders?
This depends on where you live.
Credit: Amazon
In general,we recommend putting out your hummingbird feeders in late March or early April.
Why Trust Southern Living
Rebecca Jonesis a writer forSouthern Livingwho specializes in shopping content.
The Aspects HummZinge’s perch allows hummingbirds to rest on the sides and linger for more viewing time.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Grateful Gnome feeder includes a sturdy S-hook to hang the feeder from a stand, tree, or hook in your garden.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Perky-Pet feeder’s durable, thick glass withstands the weather with an elegant style.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Perky-Pet Elegant Glass Copper Hummingbird Feeder’s base features built-in bee guards, so hummingbirds are the only pollinators you’ll see.Credit: Southern Living
The Kingsyard feeder sticks to your window, and its suction cups stay securely attached.Credit: Amazon
The Kingsyard Window Hummingbird Feeder has suction cups that attach the feeder to a window and ensure it always stays level, even in high winds.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Zummr Ring Feeder has a large red flower feeding station that is vivid and bright to attract hummingbirds.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Walmart
The More Birds Big Gulp feeder has an extra-large 40-ounce reservoir, so refills are rare.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Perky-Pet Top-Fill Pinch-Waist feeder hangs securely during severe weather and can be used on trees, hooks, stands, and more.Credit: Southern Living
